Health Alert – U.S. Embassy San Jose, Costa Rica (September 11, 2026) – U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica
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Location: Costa Rica
Event: On September 3, 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its Global Travel Health Notice for Dengue with a new list of higher-than-expected risk countries, including Costa Rica. These countries are either reporting higher than usual numbers of cases, or CDC has identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries. Travelers visiting these countries may be at increased risk.
Costa Rica remains at Level 1 (Practice Usual Precautions) on the CDC’s Travel Health Notice scale; this update reflects a higher-than-expected case count within that same lowest-risk tier and does not indicate a change in CDC’s travel recommendations for Costa Rica.
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week. Symptoms from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding. Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.
Actions to take:
Visit the CDC webpage on dengue.
Seek medical attention if you develop symptoms consistent with dengue during or after travel to Costa Rica.
Take mosquito bite prevention precautions if you are traveling to Costa Rica: use EPA-registered repellent (DEET, picaridin, or IR3535), wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and spend time in air conditioning or screened/mosquito-netted spaces.
Eliminate standing water around any rental homes or accommodations, since Aedes mosquitoes breed in small containers of stagnant water.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy San Jose, Costa Rica
+506 2519-2000
State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 (888) 407-4747 or +1 (202) 501-4444
Costa Rica International Travel Information (travel.state.gov)
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates.
U.S. Embassy San Jose WhatsApp Channel (mobile only)
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